Guia da Faculdade uses a methodology known as peer evaluation to assess nearly 16,000 higher education programs throughout Brazil. In this process, the Guia team functions as a research institute, gathering insights from thousands of professors actively engaged in higher education. All institutions registered with the Ministry of Education are invited to participate in the Guia da Faculdade evaluations. To be considered, they must meet two criteria: they must offer Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees and have at least one cohort of graduates.

Over 10,500 Brazilian coordinators and professors are registered as evaluators for Guia da Faculdade. Evaluators provide assessments for programs in their areas of expertise, primarily at institutions within their own regions. Each program is rated in three specific categories (on a scale from 1 to 5):

• Pedagogical Approach: Evaluates the teaching proposal and educational framework of the course.
• Faculty: Assesses the qualifications and experience of the teaching staff.
• Infrastructure: Examines the quality of facilities, materials, and equipment.

Each course is evaluated by six professors. If a program does not receive at least four evaluations, it is rated as “no grade.”

Final Result Calculation

For each course, the highest and lowest grades are discarded, and the average of the remaining four grades is taken. This average (with weight 3) is combined with the course’s results from the prior two years (weight 2 for the previous year and weight 1 for two years prior) to determine the final score. If a course was not rated in a prior year, that year is excluded from the calculation. The final score is then converted to a star rating:

• 5 stars: Final score between 4.50 and 5
• 4 stars: Final score between 3.50 and less than 4.50
• 3 stars: Final score between 2.50 and less than 3.50
• No star: Final score below 2.50